Education, Secondary

To teach in an Illinois public high school (grades 9-12) teachers must be licensed by the state of Illinois. Students interested in secondary education major in the academic discipline they intend to teach. To transfer into an approved baccalaureate program in Secondary Education as a junior, students must complete 60 semester credits. Community college students are strongly encouraged to complete an Associate degree prior to transfer. (64 semester credit hours required). Since admission is competitive, completion of these courses alone does not guarantee admission. A minimum grade point average of 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale), dependent on the transfer school requirements, is required for program admission.

Effective Fall of 2016, the associate in science (A.S.) degree is designed to complete the lower-division (freshman and sophomore) portion of a bachelor of science degree in STEM related majors. As a result, A.S. degree does not include the entire General Education Core Curriculum. Therefore, students will need to complete MORE general education courses after transfer by completing the GECC curriculum while enrolled at the participating Illinois transfer institution OR fulfilling the general education requirements of their selected non-participating transfer institution.

General education in major field requirements vary significantly by intended transfer institution. Students who have already chosen the university to which they plan to transfer should consult that institution's catalog or department advisor and an SVCC academic advisor in planning their program. 

Criminal History Check Policy

Illinois law requires Illinois school boards to conduct a criminal background investigation on applicants for employment. This law also prohibits the employment of a person who has been convicted of committing or attempting to commit any one or more of a number of offenses. At present, offenses include first degree murder; any Class X felony; juvenile pimping; soliciting for a juvenile prostitute; exploitation of a child; obscenity; child pornography; harmful material; criminal sexual assault; aggravated criminal sexual assault; offenses set forth in the Cannabis Control Act; and crimes defined in the Illinois Controlled Substance Act. Employment must be denied whether the offenses and/or conviction occurred inside or outside the state of Illinois.

Students who perform classroom observations through coursework at Sauk Valley Community College may be required by the selected school/site to undergo a criminal background check prior to placement. Students may be denied at any observation site based on the results of that check.

Students who feel their criminal background may exclude them from observation or employment should seek counseling with SVCC faculty or advising staff early in their program to determine how it may affect their participation and eligibility.